English abstract

The large variety of formats currently used for creating digital documents calls for a detailed analysis and evaluation of their functionality. Accessibility, portability and methods of creation are essential factors to consider when selecting a format. Choosing the appropriate format involves a search for a widely accepted standard to ensure that the documents won’t become incompatible with new formats developed in the future. The present article reviews all of the formats which have appeared in recent years, with special attention given to XML, one of the more promising, created for internet and a likely successor to HTML.